The new Peugeot 5008 is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2019, but we’ve managed to unearth the structure of the local range as well as standard specifications a little early.

While the all-important question of pricing has yet to be answered, we now know seven-seater 5008 will be available locally in three familiar trim levels: Active, Allure and GT-Line.

All three models will be powered by Peugeot’s 2,0-litre turbodiesel engine, which sends its 110 kW (at 4 000 r/min) and 370 N.m (at 2 000 r/min) exclusively to the front axle. The base Active derivative employs a six-speed manual gearbox, while the mid-spec Allure and flagship GT-Line both use an automatic transmission with the same number of cogs.

Peugeot claims all three sip at an average of 4,8 L/100 km, with the manual model reaching three figures from standstill in a claimed 9,6 seconds (and the self-shifters interestingly taking a full 1,3 seconds longer).

The seven-seater SUV boasts a second row comprising three (separately folding and tilting) perches and a third row with two removable pews. This adjustability results in luggage space that Peugeot says can be varied from 780 to 1 080 litres.

Ryan has spent most of his career in online media, writing about everything from sport to politics and other forms of crime. But his true passion – reignited by a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 still tucked lifeless in a dark corner of his garage – is of the automotive variety.